Dual bottle closure

ABSTRACT

A dual bottle closure which includes a ceramic bottle with an imperforate crown cap secured to the opening of the bottle as well as a ceramic cap with a plastic insert which surrounds the crown cap is disclosed. The insert fits within the ceramic cap and has threads which screw onto the threads located on the neck of the bottle. In a second embodiment of the invention a cap with an insert substantially covers the opening of a bottle. The insert has threads which screw onto the threads located on the neck of the bottle. A cork is inserted into the opening of the bottle and is covered by the cap and insert.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is directed toward bottle closures and moreparticularly, toward a dual closure which is compact and prevents thecontents of the bottle from leaking.

[0002] A problem often encountered when shipping bottles which aremerely sealed by caps that are screwed onto the bottles is that thecontents of the bottles may leak during transit. This leads to evengreater problems, for example, the mess of the spill that occurs as aresult of the leak, as well as damage to the bottles and possiblecontamination of the contents of the bottles, both of which may causethe product to become unacceptable to the consumer of the product.

[0003] Attempts to solve the leakage problem outlined above includeusing more than merely a cap to seal the bottle. For example, a plasticseal may be secured to the top opening of the bottle or fitted aroundthe cap and neck of the bottle. The seals secured to the top opening arefrequently difficult to remove and the plastic seals around the cap andneck are easily broken thus rendering it ineffective in preventing aleak from the bottle.

[0004] Outer plastic seals are also somewhat unsightly. While this maynot be a problem with many household products, it would not beacceptable for ceramic or fancy glass bottles intended for fragrances orthe like.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,059 to Novitch discloses a bottle with aseptum seal and cap. This closure system prevents liquid radioactivematerial from leaking from the bottle. However, these closures are nottruly a dual closure system in that the closures function independentlyof each other. That is, the outer cap cannot mate with the screw threadsfound on the neck of the bottle until the septum seal has been removed.Therefore, leaks may still occur.

[0006] Thus, a need exists for a compact dual closure system for abottle which prevents leaks and particularly for ceramic or glassbottles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention is designed to overcome the deficiencies ofthe prior art discussed above. It is an object of the present inventionto provide a compact bottle closure for ceramic or glass bottles whichprevents the contents of the bottle from leaking particularly duringshipping.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a dualbottle closure which fits compactly on the bottle.

[0009] In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstratingfeatures and advantages of the present invention, there is provided adual bottle closure which essentially includes a ceramic bottle with aninternal closure in the form of an imperforate crown cap secured to theopening of the bottle as well as an external closure in the form of aceramic cap with a plastic insert which fits within the cap. The capsurrounds the crown cap and the plastic insert has threads which screwonto the ceramic threads located on the neck of the bottle.

[0010] In a second embodiment of the invention, the internal closure isin the form of a cork that is inserted into the opening at the top ofthe bottle. The cork and opening are covered by the cap and the screwthreads on the interior of the cap insert screws onto the threads of thebottle.

[0011] Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will bereadily apparent from the following detailed description of twopreferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown inthe accompanying drawings forms which are presently preferred; it beingunderstood that the invention is not intended to be limited to theprecise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

[0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the dualbottle closure of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the dualbottle closure of the present invention on a bottle;

[0015]FIG. 3 is bottom perspective view of the outer closure of thepresent invention;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the line 4-4 ofFIG. 3;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through the line 5-5 ofFIG. 1, and

[0018]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like referencenumerals have been used throughout the various figures to designate likeelements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a dual bottle closure constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention and designatedgenerally as 10.

[0020] The first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2and essentially includes a bottle 12 with a neck 14 having outer screwthreads 16 located thereon, an opening in the top thereof, and anexternal closure in the form of an external cap 18 which fits onto theneck 14 of the bottle 12 and substantially covers the opening. Locatedwithin the cap 18 is an insert 20 with internal screw threads 22complimentary to the screw threads 16 of the neck 14 of the bottle 12.(See FIGS. 2, 3 and 5.) The insert 20 lines the inside of the cap 18 andis secured thereto.

[0021] The opening at the top of the bottle 12 is sealed with aninternal closure in the form of a crown cap 24 of conventionalconstruction. Although not specifically shown, the crown cap 24 includesan outer metallic member that is crimped onto the bottle and an innersealing member made of cork or plastic or the like that is held tightlyover the bottle opening in order to seal the same. When the cap 18 isplaced over the opening which is sealed with the crown cap 24, the crowncap 24 is substantially enclosed or covered within the interior space 26and the screw threads 22 of the insert 20 may be screwed onto thecomplimentary screw threads 16 on the neck 14 of the bottle 12. (SeeFIG. 5.)

[0022] Preferably, the bottle 12 and cap 18 are made of ceramic, glassor other similar material. The bottle may, of course, be of any shapeand size as long as it has a threaded neck 14. The insert 20 ispreferably made from a plastic material that can slide easily across theceramic threads of the bottle without binding. The cap 18 and insert 20are shaped to fit onto the bottle 12 in a complimentary fashion.Alternatively, the insert need not be present at all. For example, theinsert may be used when a specific orientation or alignment of the capin relation to the bottle is necessary.

[0023] The second embodiment 110 of the present invention is shown inFIG. 6 and essentially includes a similar bottle 112 with a neck 114having external screw threads 116 located thereon, an opening, and a cap118 which fits onto the neck 114 of the bottle and substantially coversthe opening. Located within the cap 118 is an insert 120 with internalscrew threads 122 that are complimentary to the screw threads 116 of theneck 114 of the bottle. An internal closure in the form of a cork orsimilar stopper 124 fits within the opening of the bottle 112 and issubstantially enclosed or covered by the cap 118 and the insert 120 whenthe cap 118 is placed thereon.

[0024] As with the first embodiment, in the second embodiment of theinvention, the bottle 112 and cap 118 may be made from glass, ceramic,or any other type of material known and used in the art. The bottle 112and cap 118 may also be of any shape and size. The insert 120 ispreferably made from plastic. The cap and plastic insert are shaped tofit onto the bottle in a complimentary fashion. Also, as described inthe first embodiment, the insert may be optional.

[0025] The invention described above provides two caps for a bottle in acompact manner. One of the purposes served with both of the embodimentsdescribed above is to prevent the contents of a decorative bottle fromleaking or spilling during shipping. Another purpose of the presentinvention is to allow the bottle to be resealed after the crown cap orcork has been removed. Furthermore, the caps may be decorative so as toallow the bottles to be used as decorative pieces or collectors' items.

[0026] The present invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof andaccordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims rather thanto the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A dual bottle closure comprising: a bottle having an openingand a neck with external screw threads formed thereon; an externalclosure in the form of an external cap for covering said opening of saidbottle, said external cap having internal screw threads which mate withsaid screw threads of said neck; and an internal closure in the form ofan imperforate crown cap secured to said bottle; wherein said externalcap substantially encloses said crown cap when said external cap isthreaded onto said neck of said bottle.
 2. The dual bottle closure ofclaim 1 wherein said external closure includes an insert that fitswithin said cap.
 3. The dual bottle closure of claim 2 wherein saidinternal thread screws are carried by said insert.
 4. The dual bottleclosure of claim 1 wherein said bottle and said cap are ceramic.
 5. Thedual bottle closure of claim 4 wherein said insert is comprised ofplastic.
 6. A dual bottle closure comprising: a bottle having an openingand a neck with external screw threads formed thereon; an externalclosure in the form of an external cap for covering said opening of saidbottle, said external cap having internal screw threads which mate withsaid screw threads of said neck; and an internal closure in the form ofa stopper inserted within said opening of said bottle; wherein saidexternal cap substantially encloses said stopper when said external capis threaded onto said neck of said bottle.
 7. The dual bottle closure ofclaim 6 wherein said external closure includes an insert that fitswithin said cap.
 8. The dual bottle closure of claim 7 wherein saidinternal thread screws are carried by said insert.
 9. The dual bottleclosure of claim 6 wherein said stopper is a cork.
 10. The dual bottleclosure of claim 6 wherein said bottle and said cap are ceramic.
 11. Thedual bottle closure of claim 10 wherein said insert is comprised ofplastic.